Thread: Free Drop-in Clinic etc..

Hi Everyone,

I would like to set up a free drop-in clinic in Milton Keynes to offer advice and assistance to those struggling against debts, repossession etc.

The format can be either presentation based with handouts or a drop-in as mentioned.

Therefore, I would like to hear from anyone who has done something similar, from those who may like to assist with setting it up, or volunteering and so on.

I would especially like to hear from those who have relevant qualifications and experience with these issues.

I have recently studied UK Financial Services & Regulation (or decent lack thereof) and the modules relating to mortgage advice etc. (which took about 10 hours of reading and some silly multiple-choice tests - fully qualified to sell mortgages - ridiculous!!!)

Aside from that, my only experience is personal - I've been struggling against debts and unemployment for a couple of years now.

Would anyone like to join in? CAG?

Thanks for reading,

Kevin.

p.s. please don't tell me that CAB, CCCS, Payplan and all those similar organisations are fully helpful.. been there, done that, got shafted in court thanks to them (and my ignorance at the time).. never again... and don't tell me that the judiciary will look after our rights - they don't...

Just to clarify - there will be no opportunities to "sell" financial products to those attending in any way whatsoever.. no fee-paying debt management solutions either... I would accept such products as displayed on this website - Will kits, Claims kits etc..

This is a grassroots, community project, to empower local people in a similar way to how my wife and I were empowered by CAG etc..

Thanks,

Kevin.

Originally Posted by Manga9

p.s. please don't tell me that CAB, CCCS, Payplan and all those similar organisations are fully helpful.. been there, done that, got shafted in court thanks to them (and my ignorance at the time).. never again... and don't tell me that the judiciary will look after our rights - they don't...

I'm a little concerned with this comment, it doesn't seem very holistic IMHO.

Anyhows, get in touch with these guys for some advice in start up:

Welcome to Money Advice Trust
Institute of Money Advisers - IMA
adviceUK : Advice UK Homepage
http://www.asauk.org.uk/

I work in the industry (not for any of the aforementioned firms btw) so am able to hopefully point you in the right direction if need be

What I will also say is that there is a huge difference between giving financial advice and giving money/debt advice.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

My wife was registered here (I can provide the username when she gets back from work) but this was a couple of years ago & for gathering info/getting advice on how to use CCA, SARS etc etc. Combination of trying to fight off the debt collecting hordes & reclaiming some charges. I completed the IFS mortgage course simply because I needed to fight Northern Rock - I lost because the judge would not accept that it was unlawful for Northern Rock to divert funds intended to pay the mortgage to the non-secured loan element even though we had explicitly stated that all payments were to be made to the mortgage only, besides the fact that we only had enough income to meet priority and secured debts.

I will research and confirm the situation regarding legality/licence and how to work within such a framework/or alternatives to. But, by advice, I do not mean that which would be subject to a regulatory framework. Rather, think along the lines of a small physical CAG workshop if that conveys what I'm meaning. Many of those I have spoken to in my area, have no internet access and give me a look of sheer terror when I suggest the local net-cafe for accessing here.

Kevin.

Holistic? And organisations that get you to acknowledge your debts to be used in court against you are? Organisations that present an impression of offering sound legal advice when in actual fact they don't are holistic? Organisations who receive considerable donations/funding from the finance sector are holistic? But perhaps if you had an idea of what we have gone through in recent years then that might explain why I am coming across more militant or aggressive than I intend. My apologies Sequenci.

(there was a little smiley in here - but it disappeared)

Kevin.

- if the smiley works this time.